Loose-leaf binder



Patented Oct. 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATEN EdwardC.WlliamsfPeterborogh, Ontario; Canada" f Application March 24, 1944, serial 527.29111 t. t

3 claims. (c1. 12s-424) My invention relatesto improvements in split ring loose leaf binders.

An object of my invention is to provide a. split ring binder in which the rings are latched closed and so arranged that it is not liable to be inadvertently sprung open andV have the contents spilled.V

Another object ofgmy invention is to provide a construction of loose leaf binder which for a given thickness of book when closed will accommodate a maximum thickness of papers in such a manner that when the book is opened the papers may be easily manipulated without danger of tearing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a split ring binder of rugged construction and one which has a minimum number of` parts which are easily fabricated and lend themselves to low cost manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of my inven-p.

tion will become apparent from a consideration of the following detail description of a specic form of my invention in which Fig. 1 isa plan View of the assembled metal parts of my binder;

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view similar to Fig. 2 but with the split rings in closed position; Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line B-B of Fig. 1; Figs. 6 and '7 are perspective views of the parts of the closing and latching mechanism on a larger scale than the preceding gures; Figs. 8 and 9 are end views of the loose leaf binder illustrating the location' of the papers in the closed and in the open position, part of the binder being broken away; Fig. l10 is a view. on the same scale as Fig. 1 of a metal blank from which the structure of Fig. 1

is formed. y

Referring tothe drawing, a pair of elongated sheet metal strips slightly concaved transversely are shown at ID hinged together by the interengagement of integral lugs I I provided on their edges, four hinges being shown. The strips II) are retained in their assembled hinged relation against endwise movement by the detents I2 formed on their adjacent edges. strips I is provided with three integral ring sections I 3-extending outwardly from the concave sides, the meeting ends of each pair of ring sections having interitting` parts 33. Each strip Il! is provided adjacent each end with an integral ear I4 extending outwardly on the same side as the ring sections I3. A camming lever I5 extends between and cooperates with each pair of adjacentears I4 in such a manner that Each of thev when moved the position shown in Figsyiand 2 the ringsmay` assumeitheir openposition and when movedfto theposition shown in Fig. SJ-the levers cam-the rings closed: and latch -them in closed position. Cover boardsfIGare-attached by applyingv their interconnecting section I'Iyto the convex side oftliestripsr Iii, as by gluing. A pieceof fabric glued `to the inside of the cover board I6 extendsover andisfglued tothe concave s ide of the stripsllat il e p f The construction` ofw the tears .I 4 `and `thel camminglever "I5 isbest shownlby thelFigsf and 7. The ear is bent back-an `amount `somewhat greater thana rght-angle.` `The Vplane of the central part of the eavrilies.= at `an angle to the hinged vedge-of the: strip, the distance between the Vsurface of adjacent ears increasinginta direction awayifrom thefendmof the strips Ii)` jas can 4be'seenin Figs. 2f-3; 8 andn9. rEach` ear is provided `with a centrali opening ila wtha; slot extending l.radially therefrom. A. depression 2| is-provided on ,theback surfacaof` each of the ears I4, thatis thefsurface of theears away from the hinged edgejof the strips` I0,y and extends radially from the opening I9. Thelever I5 `bestseen in Fig. .L-isa; at -piece-A stamped from sheet AAmetal, *hasl arhandle portion 22, a pintle` 23 on-.each .sidefoi a width slightly yless t .than the openingil inthe ears, andupstanding portionsareeprovided-at the outer ends o f the pintles` 23.1 The'. slots 20.invthe'ears permitthe Vears and cam `thelntogether consequently moving thestrips aboutgtheirhinges II to close ring sections I3. The resiliency of the v*metal parts permits further movement of the lever until the shoulders 25 snap into`the"rdepressions 2I,this latehing therings closed.`

The rings I3 are ellipticalin shape with the major elliptical axes'perpendiulartothe point of attachment to the'strip. This `is an" important feature or my invention' in that it permits a maximum Athickness-f sheets "to be satisfactorily accommodated in 4a'birider of giventhic'zk-V ness.` Whenthe Well known circular 'split rings are used, say of one and one half inches in diameter, it -is-found that 'if a thickness of` more than aboutan inch of papers' is' applied to the rings that it is diicultftosmaneuver theipapers on the rings without binding and without tear.- ing the paper at the perforations. In the construction of my invention using rings of greater diameter in a direction parallel to the cover boards when closed than their diameter at right angles thereto I have overcome this difculty as will be seen from a consideration of Figs. 8 and 9. In Fig. 8 it Will be observed that in the closeds'postiontrthe lthicknessf.. of ther-.binder is determinedby'thslesser diametersif thefrings, the longer diameter of the rings lying parallel to the binder covers I6. I have shown the binder completely lled with papers 26, the line evt/then customary paper perforationsbeing indicatedat 21.* When the top cover issmoved tcsthesppen position as shown in Fig.- 9 the rings assume'a position with their' long diameter at Vright angles to the line of the'covers, adthe'papersmove along the rings and assume the positionshown occupying a portion only of the length of a ring "section, Theextrafverticallspace now available frorn-the'ftop `Vf 'the-paper'sheetsto` the 'top yof the ringsfprovides ya clear/ance wher'eby" aslsheet {bil-the ring. "=It1viilFbe"observedithat y While in i the clo'sd'f positionthefibookmay be"-11ed to Ccapaici'ty andl'hence the space v-o r cu`pied iny a ''lingcbinetioccuped bythe binders is u sed t0 maximum '-*advantagef`- and i? that lwhen in open position the clearance aflodd'by the elongated "rinfgs Iin ithis position* overcomes the diiiculty in *manipulating the papers which would be-the; case "if-"theringswere circular.

It vvilli-be "observdYthat-Fvvhen `the rings are Jclosed`tl'ie`- lever |51 lis `-in anpo'sition linside the loverall dimensionsfofithe"` binder5 andv are not' in 'f-a position-'where they-virili bey accidentally re- 1eased-,f 'but they fare' readily accessible to' engage- *flvviththeir-associated parts may 'be formed. To

fmakef onefprtthebdyof 'the blank 28 is pressed'tobefsliglitly conca-ve,"the portions 29 a.'rbent=ba:kover the concave side of the strip 4to"fthe@isrdsitions previouslyldescribe'd to form the r:ears VIII. 'Ther -portions-SII fofthe 'blank are formed? `transversely' Jinto fU``shape` and bent.Y back f1over'fthe"ooncavefsidebf vthe strip and formed '-ihto`ring1`sectionsi "I3. lThe"portim 3| projects from the same edge'of theblank as the portions l29jan'd13adrhasan extension 32 lying parallel f1 toandf'spaced fronithe Vedge of 'theblank This portion'` 3 I. is bent' atits line. of junction .with the' blank" toward the. samefside of the blank as'the' ears' I4 aricltherings-'I3,l,to-a,A position aboutforty five degreesfrom..-.the plane-ol` the 60 .asimilar blank maywbe reversed'fso'that `the eX-I Atensions -32 fface y inthe opposite? directionito Vthat shownf inf Fig. "10, and-*1a the; parts 29,30 and 3 I .thereonfl are' 'their-forment in the manner "above .described. .Agpair f-complem`entary sections --f'I Usare thus-provided :front ari-'single blank shape.

A:It-Willbef'observed'fthat'fthegemis 'of the poriitionsx v are '-Ttoothed: f andfnot'ched, Athefv notch @shown on-one'fside f thez'eidibeing complemendsary tothe tooth fshownonthe otherside 'theretary sections I as above described the ends of the pair of'rings will intert.

To assemble the pair of complementary Strips I6 the oppositely facing hinge lugs are slid together with the neck 3| of each engaging beneath the extension 32 of the other. The sections are retained in assembled relation by bending the detents I2 to a position where they block .disengagementsof the-assembled parts both in lODpen andfclosed positionsof ithe. rings. but do not interfere With the hinging action thereof. A 'egg-:similar lever I5 may then be assembled in each l pair of adjacent ears at each end by springing .avheirlnd parts 24 through the slots 20 provided .for .i-that purpose, Y has'b'een'described only two different metal blanks have to be punched to provide the four i metalpa'rtsfvvhich makesl for economical manuvfactureiand the economical use of Inetal.r Also, r no separate springs are required, the inherent Vresiliency vof the' bent metalliparts; providing the force whereby the rings arelretainedfclosed by ytheflatching of the levers: I lin-lthenotches 2i :'in theears I4. 25 i While in Ithe specic exampledeso'ribed I have .shown the' ring. sections `I3 formed integral from metal of the strips- I0, with the manufacturing advantages st'ated.it is 1 apparent lthat 'the ad- 1 vantagesv of' my tinvention lmay be `lretained iii -it is foundiexpedient' tof/form the lring sections 'I3 lseparatelyi and secure themvto' thelfstrips-Ig in anyV knovvrr` mannen as= by `brazingI or lstaking. A three ring' binder has ibeeny shovvn but it` is obvious that as many rings as'-retlired'vto5 take vstandard perforated sheets may -be provided.

While-:Ifhave described 'fin `detail aspecic f Vformvof vmy .'inventionzitvvillbe I understood that I `aim .toinclude all suchimodications and variations as fall Within the scope-or the` appended 40.,c1aims; Y

What Iclaim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe' United Statesis:

` 1.1A. loose =leaffbinder comprising ajpair yof lsheet metal strips hinged together attheir edges, complementary ring sections rigidly 'connected fitoaia'nd: upst'anding''from'fthe-pairofA strips, an integral .'.upstanding ear' at-'feachfend of each :strip provided With a circular Topening, the plane rof each ear adjacent 'thebpenmgtherein lying 1at anfangle to the hinged'edge-ofthe strips such that y:the`7distance betvveen fthesea-rs increases in ua'direc'tion from'the end 'ofthe' strips,l a lever 'ahav'ingzpintles journal'ed inthe Openingsof the v'oppose'dears at each` end-ofthepair of strips, fwthel-ever having shoulders'eng'aging the surfaces ot the'rears'pnA the 'side thereof' away from the hinged edge whereby'v-on-'rotationofthe levers in their journals in one direction the said shoul- Av`dersfby their. engagement vvith jthe surfaces of opposedears cause thefstrips to-rotate about -theinhinges and move the ring-sections to closed -position, Ifurther rotation `vof -the levers-in the :closing directionl against ithe 'inherentY 'resiliency @ofthe ears causing latcl'iingthereofk by engagementf'of the said'- shoulders'in depressions in the fearfsui'fa'cesy p lf2l-Afloose lleaf binder comprising a pair of `sheet? metalstrips, hingneily connected; at their E"e'e'dgesby interlockingdetents thereon, integral complementary ring sections projectingfromlthe hinged edges'integral ears brent from. the strip *material and eiite'n'ding.from` the hinged edges l;adjacent*each end of 4veach' strip in. the same generaldirection as v-the vring/sections, ay lever v 'having pi'ntlesv journaled for rotation in openings provided in the pair of opposed ears at each end, said levers having shoulders engaging the surface of the ears remote from the hinged edge, the location of the planes of the surfaces of the ears with respect to the hinged edge being such lthat on rotary movement of the levers the shoulders thereon force the ears towards one another, moving the strips about their hinges and closing the rings.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising a pair of 10 sheet metal strips transversely curved and hinged together edge to edge, a plurality of ring sections extending from the adjacent edges of 

